EAST LANSING, Michigan -
Michigan State baseball associate head coach Mark Van Ameyde has been named head coach at Eastern Michigan, it was announced by the school on Tuesday. Van Ameyde spent six years on the Spartan staff under head coach Jake Boss Jr.

"We're very happy for Mark and his family and excited for his opportunity at EMU," said Boss. "Mark has done a tremendous job for us at Michigan State and was a big reason for all our success we've had over the past six years. He's going to be an outstanding head coach and is more than ready for this challenge.

"I'd like to personally thank Mark for all he has done here; he has left MSU in very good place."

Van Ameyde, the Spartans' pitching coach, was one of the key components to MSU's recent success, including helping the program to its first Big Ten Championship in 32 years in 2011 and a berth in the NCAA Regionals in 2012. Under Van Ameyde's tutelage, the Spartan pitching staff demonstrated significant improvement.

This last season, the pitching staff ranked second in the Big Ten with a 3.09 ERA, which was also the 10th lowest in MSU single-season history.

In 2013, the Spartan pitching staff compiled a 3.22 ERA and held opponents to a .240 batting average, which tied for the best in the Big Ten. For the second consecutive year, MSU ranked in the top 40 nationally in walks allowed per nine innings (22nd at 2.73), WHIP (14th at 1.18) and ERA (36th at 3.22)

During the 2012 run to the NCAA Tournament, the Spartans had one of their best seasons in school history on the mound. MSU recorded 389 strikeouts, second most in program history. MSU led the Big Ten in opposing batting average (.249), saves (15) and pickoffs (12) while ranking second in strikeouts and third in ERA.

Van Ameyde joins Billy Gernon (Western Michigan) as former assistants under Boss that have gone on to head coaching positions.

"I am excited, grateful and humbled to be the next Head Baseball Coach at Eastern Michigan University," Van Ameyde was quoted. "I want to thank Director of Athletics Heather Lyke, Senior Associate AD Chris Hoppe and all those on the search committee for this opportunity. I also need to recognize and thank Chris Czarnik who hired me at the University of Detroit, Pete Wilk who gave me an opportunity at Georgetown and of course Jake Boss at Michigan State. Lastly, I would be remiss if I didn't thank my wife, Melissa, for her constant support throughout my career."

"We are incredibly proud and excited for Mark to lead the EMU baseball program; likewise, we have tremendous gratitude for his hard work and contributions to our Spartan baseball program the last six years," said MSU senior associate athletics director Shelley Appelbaum. "Our program has had great success and Mark has been a significant contributor to Coach Boss' staff. We wish Mark, Melissa and their children the very best as they make their transition to Eastern Michigan University in this leadership role."